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Not wanting to go near that statement, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. She was the only woman he was thinking about. To get the subject back onto her, he said, “I know you’re going to miss River Rock, but Vegas suits you.”
She leaned her head back a bit to look at him, the porch light gleaming across her inquisitive eyes. “How so?”
“You always seemed bigger than River Rock.”
Her mouth twitched. “I hope in a good way?”
“Of course, in a good way.” Houdini began snoring. He chuckled, as did she, then he continued. “Your talents are wasted in such a small town. That’s why Brody has been trying to get you to leave for years. I’m sure he sees what I’ve seen too. You’re meant for something bigger, brighter, something that puts your name up front and center.”
She gave him a soft smile then glanced back up at the stars. “Workin
g in Vegas was something me and my mom used to talk about all the time when we cooked together.”
Now, things began to make sense. He had always wondered where the Vegas dream had come from. Apparently, it had come from happy memories of her mother. A woman that Chase had always called his second mom while growing up. “Your mom would be happy for you. She always loved Vegas.” Chase remembered her parents well. They were good people, and it had been a terrible shame when they passed away. “You’re following your heart. I imagine nothing would make your parents prouder.”
She stroked her fingers over Houdini’s head, only making the puppy snore louder. “My moving will make Brody happy too.”
At that, Chase froze. He did not like the despondent tone of her voice. Though he understood her hesitation, change was hard sometimes, even if that change was the right thing to do. “I wouldn’t say that your moving away is going to make Brody happy. Yes, he’ll be insanely proud of you, but he’s going to miss you.”
“He also has Faith now. You know, with the marriage and all.”
Chase hesitated at the now cracking of her voice. “Are you not happy they’re getting married?”
“Oh, I am.” She stroked her finger down Houdini’s nose. “It’s just . . .” She inhaled deeply. “I kinda got the feeling that maybe my moving away is what brought on the engagement.”
Chase agreed with a nod. “I’m sure your leaving has something to do with Brody’s decision. Your brother isn’t used to being alone. You’ve always been there in the house with him. But Faith is good for him.”
“I’m not arguing that she’s not his perfect match,” said Harper, snuggling her head against Chase’s shoulder.
“Then what’s wrong?”
She glanced at him, the porch light revealing her eyes tight with worry. “I feel bad for him, you know. Brody’s always had his life delivered to him. He was only eighteen when all of a sudden he had to stop being a teenager and become an adult to take care of his little sister. It’s like everything he does is for a reason, not really because he wants it.”
“Perhaps that’s simply his mindset, though,” Chase offered. “It makes sense to marry her.”
“Yeah, but does life always have to make sense?”
While he understood Harper’s side of this, he smiled softly. “For a logical person, yes, and Brody is a logical person.”
Her brows drew together with her long, deep breath until she turned her attention to the stars again. “I guess that’s true.”
He gave her a further examination, noting the tight set of her mouth. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
When she turned to him again, he saw a thousand unanswered questions in her pretty eyes. “Oh, I’m just lying here thinking how much of what we do in life is because we really want it or because the events in our life made that outcome the only feasible one.”
Chase frowned. “Explain that a bit more.”
“I mean that, yes, I believe Faith and Brody are meant to be together. But would they have been married sooner if my parents had been here? Would Brody be happier if he hadn’t had to raise me?”
“That’s a lot of what-ifs.”
She smiled softly. “I know. I just want him to be happy after all he’s done for me.”
With her heart bared to him and the warmth of that affection spilling out over him, he stroked his knuckles across her cheek. “He will be happy. There is no one better for Brody than Faith.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. I guess I’m just being emotional.” She avoided his gaze again, glancing down at Houdini between them. He was flopped on his side, his small belly lifting and falling with his heavy breaths. She slowly stroked down between his eyes, her voice gentle. “Imagine if life was this easy. Play until you’re all tuckered out, then sleep, then eat.”
Chase examined her. Hard.
